and john schriffen is here with all of it. >> reporter: this is a lot of money. according to the lawsuit, patricia cornwell says she discovered something was wrong in 2009, when he net worth was around $13 million, the same as her yearly earnings for the past four years. the big question this morning, where did all that money go? this morning, best-selling fiction crime writer patricia cornwell is knee-deep in her own real-life mystery. in a boston courtroom this week, cornwell is suing her wealth management firm, saying it took millions from her wildly popular novels. her books based on a fictional forensic investigator, kay scarpetta, have made her rich and are showing up in a film. cornwell is known for her lavish, spending habits, including this helicopter. and she talked to robin roberts about one of her favorite cars. >> i just donated my precious ferrari. >> reporter: but now cornwell says the firm burned through her cash. and she's asking for $100 million for damages, negligence and breach of contract. >> we're seeing where business managers are accused o